New Bedford Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in New Bedford, MA

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Massachusetts

The laws that regulate how land can be used, and what structures can be built on individual pieces of land in New Bedford, Massachusetts can sometimes be a bit complicated. This article will not make its reader an expert, but should serve as a good introduction to the subject.

Local governments will usually divide the city or town into sections, called "zones," each of which is designated for a particular use, such as residential homes, commercial businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This process is known as "zoning."

Local governments have many different reasons for enacting zoning laws, ranging from ensuring that residential areas are peaceful and quiet, to protecting property values. For example, most people wouldn't buy a home in a neighborhood where they knew it was possible for a neighbor to turn their house into a factory.

On the other hand, zoning laws recognize and attempt to accommodate the necessity of factories and other industrial activities. They simply seek to ensure that such activities are conducted in a way that they don't conflict with the rights of adjacent landowners to use and enjoy their property in peace.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of New Bedford, Massachusetts's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few options.

It should be clear, however, that the ideal solution is to simply fix any condition on your property which is in violation of a local zoning law. If the violation is not serious, and correcting it won't significantly interfere with your use of your property, this is probably the best course of action.

What if, however, you've invested a significant amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it violates your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is essentially an exception to the zoning rules. If declining to enforce these rules would not harm anyone, and would not do much to advance the purpose of New Bedford, Massachusetts's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.

Further, if you have been living on your property for a long time, and made improvements on it that complied with the zoning laws in effect at the time, a new zoning law that would be violated by your current use of your property, the new law cannot be enforced against you. The U.S. Constitution bars the passage of "ex post facto," or retroactive, laws. Once the laws take effect, however, you'll have to comply with the new zoning laws with respect to any new improvements you want to make on your property.

What Can A New Bedford, Massachusetts Attorney Do?

If you are in the process of physically altering your property, you are almost certain to face some issues having to do with local zoning laws. If you find that zoning laws are making it very difficult to use your property as you see fit, you may have legal recourse, usually in the form of a variance. Of course, your chances of success in any zoning dispute will be immeasurably increased if you have the help of a qualified New Bedford, Massachusetts attorney.

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Life in New Bedford

New Bedford, Massachusetts houses a population of over 100,000 residents. And that's not all New Bedford is home to, the city is also the number one fishing port in America, in addition to being the world's most famous whaling era seaports. The strategic locationright onthe water makes the city a natural seaport, and wonderful place for the commercial or leisure fisherman to take advantage of.

In addition to many parks and shops located in the city's historic district, New Bedford has whaling museum to commorate the city's role in whaling. Fishing and manufacturing are the two largest industries in New Bedford, although tourism is also on the rise.

New Bedford is also home to some of the state's top lawyers. New Bedford lawyers and other professionals enjoy the wonderful work and lifestyle that the east coast city has to offer, and are trained to assist their client in any issue he or she may find themself facing. New Bedford's location fifty one miles south of the state capital of Boston, makes it a very easy city to visit and enjoy. New Bedford also enjoys a thriving arts and music movement in recent times, that is home to many lively festivals and concerts for their residents and visitors to take part in.

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